Quick-Mounting Partition Stucture

ABSTRACT

A quick-mounting partition structure includes multiple uprights arranged in parallel, each upright having a flat front face, two longitudinally extending side grooves, two longitudinally extending back mounting flanges, a plurality of rectangular holes cut through the flat front face at different elevations, and a plurality of angled hooks protruded from the flat front face at the bottom side of each rectangular hole, partition panels, and hanging members fixedly provided at the back side of each partition panel for hanging the partition panels on the uprights, each hanging member having a flat base, an extension flange perpendicularly protruded from the back wall of the flat base, and a hook flange perpendicularly protruded from the extension flange for hooking on the angled hooks of the uprights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a partition structure and more particularly, to a quick-mounting partition structure that can easily and quickly be installed, shortening the installation time. The quick-mounting partition structure is highly stable when installed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Mobile partition systems or screen partitions are commonly seen in our surroundings to divide space or to offer privacy. When compared to conventional partition structures of permanent construction, mobile partition systems and screen partitions have the advantages of low cost, ease of installation, high detachability, and high changeability of space form.

Regular partition systems are commonly comprised of uprights and partition panels. The connection structure between uprights and partition panels is quite important in designing a partition system. Taiwan Patent Publication No. 250836 (equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,380, entitled “Partition Frame Structure”) discloses a partition frame, which has two parallel side walls, a flat connecting wall perpendicularly connected between the side walls, two longitudinal grooves defined between the two side walls at two opposite sides of the flat connecting wall, longitudinal rows of key holes on the side walls for mounting partition panels, and two longitudinal rows of recessed hanging holes on each side wall at an outer side for hanging things.

Other similar designs are seen in Taiwan Patent Publication No. 3452266 (equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,100, entitled “Partition Wall”); Taiwan Patent Publication No. 349560 (equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,299, entitled “Partition Wall Material”, issued to the present inventor) in which the partition wall material is comprised of a skeletal material, partition boards, and fastening plates. Taiwan Patent Publication No. 356156 (equivalent to China Patent No. 99205960.7) discloses a frame bar and plate member connection structure for partition system or partition screen, which allows quick mounting of plate members on upright frame bars by plugging.

In general, conventional partition systems or screen partitions are divided into multiple units. Each unit is comprised of a plurality of uprights and a plurality of partition panels hung on the uprights or fastened to the uprights with screws or other fastening means to form a flat wall. However, conventional partition systems or screen partitions have drawbacks as follows:

1. Poor dust and sound isolation effect. When partition panels are fastened to uprights, gaps are left among the partition panels and the uprights, resulting in poor dust and sound isolation effect.

2. Low stability. During installation, partition panels may be not accurately aligned. This problem is commonly seen in a big partition system or screen partition. After installation, the partition panels may vibrate or may be deformed.

3. Complicated structural design. Conventional partition panels are made in one single color, unable to satisfy the requirement for a colorful design to fit indoor decorations. in recent years, colorful designs of square partition panels have been developed. However, their installation is complicated. After a long use, the clamping devices that secure colorful designs of square partition panels to upright frame bars may cause an elastic fatigue. In case of elastic fatigue of the clamping devices, the colorful designs of square partition panels may fall from upright frame bars.

4. Special installation technique is necessary. When installing a partition system or screen partition, the user cannot make it by oneself and must rely on professional persons. Therefore, when installing a partition system or screen partition, the labor cost is high, and the installation takes time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a quick-mounting partition structure, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art designs. It is another object of the present invention to provide a quick-mounting partition structure, which enables partition panels to be quickly mounted on uprights and firmly secured to the uprights in place. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a quick-mounting partition structure, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

To achieve these and other objects and according to one aspect of the present invention, the quick-mounting partition structure is comprised of a plurality of uprights arranged in parallel, and at least one partition panel for hanging on the uprights. The uprights each comprise a flat front face vertically extending along the length at the front side, two longitudinal grooves extending along the length and symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides, two longitudinal mounting flanges respectively outwardly extending along the longitudinal grooves at one side remote from the front face, a plurality of rectangular holes cut through the flat front face at different elevations, and a plurality of angled hooks protruded from the flat front face and respectively disposed at the bottom side of each rectangular hole. The at least one partition panel each comprises two hanging members fixedly provided at the back wall and respectively disposed at the top and bottom sides of the back wall. The hanging members each comprise a flat base, an extension flange perpendicularly protruded from the back wall of the flat base near one side of the back wall, and a hook flange perpendicularly protruded from the extension flange for hooking on the angled hooks of the uprights.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the angled hooks of the uprights each have a reinforcing rib that defines with the front face of the respective upright a contained angle about 40°˜50°, or preferably at 45°.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the hanging members each fuither comprise a lap rib protruded from the respective hook flange for lapping on the associating angled hook.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the angled hooks of the uprights are arranged in pairs at different elevations, and the two angled hooks of one same pair are horizontally aligned.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the uprights are arranged in pair, and the mounting flanges of the two uprights of one same pair are fixedly fastened together so that each pair of uprights form a column.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the at least one partition panel each comprises a packing rubber bonded to the back wall and extending along the border of the back wall.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the hanging members each further comprise a second extension flange perpendicularly protruded from the back wall of the respective flat base near the opposite side of the back wall, and a second hook flange perpendicularly protruded from the first extension flange.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the hanging members each further comprise a second lap rib protruded from the respective second hook flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a quick-mounting partition structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional assembly view of the quick-mounting partition structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational assembly view of the quick-mounting partition structure in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a quick-mounting partition structure in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising at least one pair of uprights 1, at least one partition panel 2, and at least two hanging members 3.

The uprights 1 are elongated bars. Each upright 1 has a flat front face 11 extending along the length at the front side, two longitudinal grooves 12 extending along the length and symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides, two longitudinal mounting flanges 13 respectively outwardly extending along the longitudinal grooves 12 at one side remote from the front face 11, a plurality of rectangular holes 111 cut through the front face 11 at different elevations, and a plurality of angled hooks 112 protruded from the front face 11 and respectively disposed at the bottom side of each of the rectangular holes 111. The rectangular holes 111 and the angled hooks 112 are made by punching, i.e., the punching tool is inserted through the gap between the two longitudinal mounting flanges 13 to the back side of the front face 11, and then the punching tool is operated to punch a rectangular hole 111 on the front face 11, and at the same time a part of the front face 11 is forced outwards to form an angled hook 112. According to this embodiment, each upright 1 comprises two sets of angled hooks 112 arranged at different elevations, each set including two vertically spaced pairs of angled hooks 112 for the hanging of one partition panels 2. Alternatively, one set of angled hooks 112 can be formed of two vertically spaced angled hooks 112. In this case, the angled hooks 112 must have a width much greater than the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, each angled hook 112 has a reinforcing rib 113 that defines with the front face 11 a contained angle about 40°˜50°, or preferably 45° to reinforce the structural strength of the respective angled hook 112, enhancing the bearing power of the respective angled hook 112.

For double-side application, two uprights 1 are abutted against each other back to back and then the longitudinal mounting flanges 13 of the two uprights 1 and welded together, thereby forming a column. Tow columns thus made are arranged in parallel for the hanging of partition panels 2 from two opposite sides.

The partition panels 2 are flat rectangular plates for hanging on the uprights 1, each having a packing rubber 21 bonded to its back side and extending along the border. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two hanging members 3 are affixed to the back side of each partition panel 2 and respectively disposed near the top and bottom sides of the associating partition panel 2. Each hanging member 3 comprises a slat-like base 31, an extension flange 32 perpendicularly protruded from the back wall of the slat-like base 31 and extending along the top edge of the slat-like base 31, a hook flange 33 perpendicularly protruded from the extension flange 32. By means of hanging the hook flanges 33 on the hanging members 3 at the back side of each partition panel 2 on one set of angled hook 112 at the uprights 1, the partition panels 2 are closely attached to the front faces 11 of the uprights 1 and firmly secured in place. After mounting, the packing rubbers 21 of the partition panels 2 are closely attached to the front faces 11 of the uprights 1 to absorb shocks, to seal out dust, and to isolate sound. When multiple partition panels 2 are arranged together to form a wall, a narrow gap is defined between each two adjacent partition panels 2, however the packing rubbers 21 of the partition panels 2 are not visible from the outside.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, each hanging member 3 can be made having a lap rib 34 protruded from the hook flange 33 for lapping on the associating angled hooks 112 of the associating uprights 1 to enhance the positioning of the respective hanging member 3 on the uprights 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 again, each hanging member 3 can be made having two extension flanges 32 protruded from the back wall of the slat-like base 31 and extending along the top and bottom edges of the slat-like base 31, two hook flanges 33 respectively and symmetrically protruded from the extension flanges 32, and two lap ribs 34 respectively and symmetrically protruded from the hook flanges 33. This design allows quick installation of the partition panels 2 in the uprights 1 in either of two reversed directions, i.e., the partition panels 2 can be hung on the uprights 1 in an upside down position.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 1 again, the hanging members 3 are respectively affixed to the top and bottom sides of the back wall of each of the partition panels 2, and then the hook flanges 33 of the hanging members 3 are respectively attached to the angled hooks 112 of the uprights 1 to have the lap ribs 34 be respectively lapped on the angled hooks 112 and engaging into the associating rectangular holes 111 of the uprights 1. By means of this installation procedure, multiple partition panels 2 are hung on the angled hooks 112 of the uprights 1, forming a flat wall.

By means of the application of the present invention, multiple partition panels can be hung on parallel uprights to constitute a partition wall subject to the desired size. The partition panels are flat plate members of rectangular or bar-like shape. By means of directly hanging the hanging members on the angled hooks of the uprights, the partition panels are fastened to the front faces of the uprights. The installation procedure is quite simple. Anybody can achieve the job without training. After installation, the partition panels are firmly secured to the uprights in a flash manner. Further, the component parts of the quick-mounting partition structure are easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A quick-mounting partition structure comprising: a plurality of uprights arranged in parallel, said uprights each comprising a flat front face vertically extending along the length at a front side thereof, two longitudinal grooves extending along the length and symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof, two longitudinal mounting flanges respectively outwardly extending along said longitudinal grooves at one side remote from said front face, a plurality of rectangular holes cut through said flat front face at different elevations, and a plurality of angled hooks protruded from said flat front face and respectively disposed at a bottom side of each of said rectangular holes; and at least one partition panel for hanging on said uprights, said at least one partition panel each comprising two hanging members fixedly provided at a back wall thereof and respectively disposed at top and bottom sides of the back wall, said hanging members each comprising a flat base, an extension flange perpendicularly protruded from a back wall of said flat base near one side of the back wall of said flat base, and a hook flange perpendicularly protruded from said extension flange for hooking on said angled hooks of said uprights.
 2. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angled hooks of said uprights each have a reinforcing rib that defines within the front face of the respective upright a contained angle about 40°˜50°
 3. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contained angle defined between the reinforcing rib of each angled hook of each of said uprights and the front face of the respective upright is 45°.
 4. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hanging members each further comprise a lap rib protruded from the respective hook flange for lapping on the associating angled hook.
 5. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angled hooks of said uprights are arranged in pairs at different elevations, and the two angled hooks of one same pair are horizontally aligned.
 6. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said uprights are arranged in pair, and the mounting flanges of the two uprights of one same pair are fixedly fastened together so that each pair of uprights form a column.
 7. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one partition panel each comprises a packing rubber bonded to the back wall thereof and arranged along the border of the back wall.
 8. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hanging members each further comprise a second extension flange perpendicularly protruded from the back wall of the respective flat base near an opposite side of the back wall of the respective flat base, and a second hook flange perpendicularly protruded from said first extension flange.
 9. The quick-mounting partition structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein said hanging members each further comprise a second lap rib protruded from the respective second hook flange. 